Who wants a Firefox phone? Take a visual trip through Firefox’s mobile OS

Dev version of Mozilla's new Boot to Gecko OS is ready to be explored.

Over a year ago, Mozilla announced its plans to work on its own mobile operating system, dubbed Firefox OS. The company officially made a prototype simulator available for developers and anyone curious enough to play around with it (though it's still in early alpha). The OS does take some of Android’s core functionality so it works on Android-capable handsets, but Mozilla also built the UI and application stack around Gecko, the Firefox HTML rendering engine.

While the advent of yet another mobile operating system might seem a little redundant, what with webOS and Chrome OS already in the wild, Firefox OS is actually a good thing. Though there are already a number of existing open source software projects with the same goal, Mozilla's is based on B2G, or Boot to Gecko. The platform is entirely based on standards-based Web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) and this makes the barrier to entry for developers quite low. By publishing the code and the OS simulator now, Mozilla opens the door for developers to begin making applications for it.

Though it’s not technically a 1.0 release, the simulator will make it easier for developers to stay current with future updates to Firefox OS. It's easy to install—all you have to do is download the file from Mozilla and then right-click and open it up in the latest version of Firefox. The browser will then install the Simulator as an add-on. Once it's finished, you'll be able to launch the simulator yourself with a one-click button.

Firefox OS's lock screen acts a lot like Android's.

As soon as we launched the simulator, we were greeted with the lock screen. It looks similar to Android's, and users can either quick launch the camera apps or go straight to the Home screen.

Firefox OS's home screen features four launcher icons at the bottom, though we weren't able to place any other icons here in the simulator.

We launched the contacts app from the home screen and it allowed us to send a fake text message to a fake number.

Firefox OS borrows a lot of its design elements from Android. You'll notice the time stamp and battery indicator in the upper right-hand corner and the prominently displayed launcher icons at the bottom. Those icons do scroll over to the left to reveal another icon, which launches a feedback form so that users can send the things they liked, as well as their concerns, to the Mozilla crew.

A quick look at the dialer.

Right-clicking on the simulator allows users to change the background wallpaper or launch the Gallery or Camera app. Swiping to the left on the home screen reveals more app icons, including the aforementioned Gallery and Camera apps, plus a nifty FM radio functionality. The Camera app does not work at all, and instead pops up the Gallery app. That then proceeds to load any photos available on your computer.

The FM radio application is a total novelty and looks like an old school analog dial from a generation ago. Users can find favorite stations as they move along the dial, but there's no functionality yet available for the simulator.

Also on this page are icons for the Mozilla Marketplace, Maps, and Settings. The Maps app does work, but because we were on a computer, it pinpointed the location at our ISP's headquarters nearby. Otherwise, Maps was sublime: satellite and live traffic views were available as well as Transit reviews. We were also surprised to discover the map data is actually provided by Nokia. Seems like Mozilla is pulling in as many third-party services it can to make its mobile platform viable.

In the marketplace, applications like Twitter are already available to try out. Others, like a free Thesaurus application, prompted download errors. But frankly, the sort of applications that are already available are impressive, including a few simple games like Solitaire and a Galactians II, a Galaga-style arcade game.

The Twitter application on Firefox OS is already full-functioning.

This neat little Galaga-type game is already available to play in the Firefox OS simulator.

Over in the Settings, users can turn on GPS, Wi-Fi (which we were not able to test because we were using an Ethernet-connected PC), and a few other common features. There's even evidence of the ability to set up a Wi-Fi Hotspot then customize the security options for it. Again, the layout of the Settings looks a lot like Android's. In the Sounds settings, users can click to hear the proposed alert tones and ringtones for Firefox OS (though they're really quite jarring at the moment).

Firefox OS's Settings panels also looks a lot like Android's.

The Notification settings only show they can be viewed from the lock screen. But after some careful clicking, we noticed there's actually an Android-like Quick Settings panel that drops down from the top, in addition to two blank bars, though we're not entirely sure what they'll be used for. Perhaps a battery power indicator?

Quick settings are available in the drop-down Notifications shade.

The Settings panel also provides users with the ability to set application permissions and to set their phone to Do Not Track—a feature that's based off of the Firefox's similar functionality. Do Not Track tells every website and application (as well as any advertisers or other content providers) that the user does not want their behavior tracked. We tried turning it on but there was no indication it was working while we were scouring the Web through mobile Firefox.

Lastly, there's the Everything.me panel, which can be engaged by swiping to the right from the home screen. This part of the Firefox OS appears to be an app explorer with various bookmarks tabbed for easy access. It's also possible to search for a specific category. Unfortunately, this feature wasn't usable, so we were unable to go much further than the search function.

At first we figured they were folders, but then we discovered that the search bar taps into a service called Everything.me.

Even in its alpha stages, Firefox OS definitely shows promise as a worthy mobile operating system. Still, it's hard to have an opinion about where it's going knowing the OS still has quite a journey ahead. At least it's letting consumers get a sneak peak, should they be interested.

49 Reader Comments

Looks like the beginnings of a fantastic OS, but it's still very plain and reminiscent of the earliest stages of Android. For example, the clock on the homescreen uses the plainest font available and makes no effort to even seem pleasant to look at. Needs a lot work and a team of stubborn designers.

The awesome thing here is because it leverages your operating system, the simulator doesn't really have anything to do. A stripped-down browser suffices to create the appearance of an operating system without actually needing to have one.

I'm disappointed to see that they're not trying any radical UI designs. What's the point of a half-dozen mobile operating systems if they all function exactly the same and look nearly identical? I guess it's nice that things are different under the hood, but that really only matters or appeals to small number of people.

Well, as they seem determined to turn Firefox into a poorish, slower clone of Chrome, see the "tabs on bottom" debate (here and here), that would seem to be quite appropriate. Wonder if they could find some spare office space in Mountain View for the developers?

This looks like an old version of Android with some awkward attempts to imitate WP8. The UI looks very generic and lacking any character. Why would anyone pick this over Android or iOS or even WP8? Seems like Mozilla is trying to "rediscover themselves" and is following the hype into the mobile space.

This looks like an old version of Android with some awkward attempts to imitate WP8. The UI looks very generic and lacking any character. Why would anyone pick this over Android or iOS or even WP8? Seems like Mozilla is trying to "rediscover themselves" and is following the hype into the mobile space.

Hell, let's not even think about those three. Why should anyone choose this over Tizen, Mer, or webOS? If they can't even make an argument about THAT, there's no point in talking Android/iOS/WP8. This really just seems like a 'me too!' effort by Mozilla, since no one wants Firefox as part of their OS (at least those that make the OSes).

I am very happy for the Mozilla Foundation that they are making an OS for mobile that written using Open Web Standards. It is nice to see they have team up with Nokia to power their map app. They need to do more stuff like this to add further value. The outlook of this OS still maturing however, this looks like a good candidate to power smart phones on the entry to mid range market. Also I think this would be light on system resources. May be I would like a Firefox phone as back up.

Since then, however, it seems their partners decided they should have a different visual identity altogether, and just that made me lose a lot of interest I had prior. I almost feel that if I did use this, I'd have to create a theme closer to Josh's to really enjoy it (silly, I know).

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with their premise that, for mobile computing, we can do everything with web technologies. I'm all for seeing us shed the need for native, inbred technologies and platform-dependence. But I really feel like it needs to be less of an Android copycat- it didn't used to be, so I wonder why they felt they needed to go that direction.

I mean, maybe since it will be shipping on cheap phones they want the OS to look cheap? I dunno', not trying to troll here, but it is strange to see them drop something beautiful for something that looks a little too plain (for my tastes). The APIs are there, that's what's important- it's not like Mozilla are the only ones who can do this now.

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with their premise that, for mobile computing, we can do everything with web technologies. I'm all for seeing us shed the need for native, inbred technologies and platform-dependence. But I really feel like it needs to be less of an Android copycat- it didn't used to be, so I wonder why they felt they needed to go that direction.

But we already have that with iOS. Remember, Apple tried really hard to get developers to use HTML5 instead of native apps and they pushed back. All that stuff works great, and some apps still use it - eg set your browser user agent to Safari/iPhone OS and load up http://docs.google.com.

Wouldn't it be easier to simply submit a few patches to Android that make it as good for running HTML5 as iOS already is? Making an entirely new operating system seems like overkill.

As to why: I think Mozilla's mission, of supporting a free and open Internet, through developing open source tools, is important, and worth supporting. While Android is pretty good, I don't think the Android ecosystem is quite what many of us hoped it would be. Mozilla's got the technical skill to launch a viable alternative mobile platform, and that will help counter the trend towards "walled garden" mobile platforms.

As to why: I think Mozilla's mission, of supporting a free and open Internet, through developing open source tools, is important, and worth supporting. While Android is pretty good, I don't think the Android ecosystem is quite what many of us hoped it would be. Mozilla's got the technical skill to launch a viable alternative mobile platform, and that will help counter the trend towards "walled garden" mobile platforms.

I like their motives, but I think technical skill alone is not enough. A great OS is useless unless it also runs on great hardware. Is Samsung or Nokia or HTC going to make 1st class hardware for this system?

How are they going to get millions of people to fork out $600 for a smartphone that runs an OS that nobody has ever heard of? If less than a few million people buy it, then the hardware will either be junk or a lot more expensive than $600.

Also, I'm not convinced they have the technical props to pull it off. WebKit runs great on low power CPU's and it is completely open source. Which developers on this team is capable of bringing Gecko to that level? There is a huge chasm in difficulty separating a HTML5 instant message client from getting complex CSS to render instantly without using much RAM.

What does Gecko have (for this project) that WebKit doesn't already do 10x better? All I can see is a bad case of "not invented here" syndrome. And I don't see any serious movement towards making Gecko run fast on slow hardware.

I'd love to be proven wrong, I really would. But I don't think this project is going anywhere. I don't see anybody involved in the project addressing these issues.

A great OS is useless unless it also runs on great hardware. Is Samsung or Nokia or HTC going to make 1st class hardware for this system?

How are they going to get millions of people to fork out $600 for a smartphone that runs an OS that nobody has ever heard of? If less than a few million people buy it, then the hardware will either be junk or a lot more expensive than $600.

I don't think Android and FirefoxOS are direct competitors. I've always seen this as not being a "1st class" OS so much as a way to get smartphone functionality to feature phones and lower-end hardware like what you might find in developing countries.

From the preview, it looks like it could do more or less everything that Android could do. But I haven't seen anything that only *it* could do. iOS has its ease of use, Android has its flexibility, Windows Phone has its Windows integration (I guess...), but what does FireFox has that others don't, or what can FireFox do better than any other platforms?

Sure, its JavaScript underpinning may makes it easier to develop apps for, but in a world where the top 3 competitors have between 100k to 700k apps, the lack of apps is simply not an issue that consumers have, at all.

So again, unless it has some sort of secret weapon that will blow every competition away, otherwise I simply don't see where does it fit in the market place.

The more choices we have that don't begin with "A" the better. As good as WP8 is, there's nothing else to even consider right now for some people - those who don't trust Google and who will never buy into Apple's ecosystem.

As noble as the open-source philosophy and motivation for Mozilla to developp this OS are, it's not going to sell the platform. Firefox made great inroads and acquired a large userbase because it was noticeably better than IE feature-wise. I don't think the fact it was open-source or free software factored much in most userse decision to switch from IE to Firefox. If they want to see a large number of users adopting Firefox OS, they absolutely need to have something that makes it substantially better than anything else. If it's not the UI I hope for them there will be something else.

Android hardware, in fact. What this *could* be great for are situations where a hardware manufacturer is being a dick about updates. e.g. You've had a phone which is still in good condition with competitive hardware (or you're simply happy with it or can't afford to upgrade etc. etc.) but the manufacturer is no longer providing updates to the firmware.

So screw them. Re-format the phone with the Firefox OS instead. It's an alternative if nothing else.

I've used the browser since v1.x as, for me and the way in which I use it, it's the best there is. However, it seems that with almost every update Mozilla finds new and creative ways to screw it up, often with insanely long delays before they put it right again (as with v3.0 - pity they didn't put as much energy into fixing it as they did into denying the problem).

And they did it again with the update before last, rendering a browser that was working perfectly massively crash-prone if you had the temerity to open more than a relatively few tabs. Took about three weeks to fix.

I'd like to see more of that. Y'know, platform-agnostic apps created using Web standards like html5 and WebGL.

Indeed. For larger websites, I think a native app makes sense, but most sites do not need a specific app. For example, it would be a waste of resources for Ars to make a mobile app when they already have the best mobile website in the business. I would rather they work at keeping that title.

This is still in its alpha stages. So anyone complaining of ui changes does not understand the development cycle. They are borrowing elements of android, and still working on the under the hood stuff. They seem to be getting partners for apps instead of an open development market, but that remains to be seen. I am excited to see this turn into a real competitor in the mobile os.

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with their premise that, for mobile computing, we can do everything with web technologies. I'm all for seeing us shed the need for native, inbred technologies and platform-dependence. But I really feel like it needs to be less of an Android copycat- it didn't used to be, so I wonder why they felt they needed to go that direction.

But we already have that with iOS. Remember, Apple tried really hard to get developers to use HTML5 instead of native apps and they pushed back. All that stuff works great, and some apps still use it - eg set your browser user agent to Safari/iPhone OS and load up http://docs.google.com.

Wouldn't it be easier to simply submit a few patches to Android that make it as good for running HTML5 as iOS already is? Making an entirely new operating system seems like overkill.

The Apple implementation was half hearted at best. Firing up any web app at the time would stomp whatever you were browsing, making them little more than bookmarks stored inside the launcher rather than browser. And since the app store boom/bubble, Apple has flip flopped on the issue. Notice how if you try to build a app around it now you get a neutered JS engine rather than the one inside safari mobile. Honestly, anyone that has followed Apple for any length of time should know by now that it was, not sure if it still is, a fickle company.

Since then, however, it seems their partners decided they should have a different visual identity altogether, and just that made me lose a lot of interest I had prior. I almost feel that if I did use this, I'd have to create a theme closer to Josh's to really enjoy it (silly, I know).

With the whole interface being HTML, modifying the behavior and looks should be simple enough.

I'm disappointed to see that they're not trying any radical UI designs. What's the point of a half-dozen mobile operating systems if they all function exactly the same and look nearly identical? I guess it's nice that things are different under the hood, but that really only matters or appeals to small number of people.

Surely you noticed the groundbreaking round icons on the home screen and in the app drawer? Round icons arranged in a grid = revolutionary! /sarcasm

...to be blunt though, I'm kinda tired of waiting for these OS and shell design teams to realize that hexagonal tiles allow you to fit more items on a display and are a more natural 'fingertip-like' shape.

I want this to be released yesterday. Initiatives like FirefoxOS and Tizen will hopefully be for people like me who want the usefulness of a smartphone, who don't give a crap about playing games on their phones, and want a stable OS that isn't beholden to either the ISP or the handset makers for updates. Essentially, what I would love to have in the smartphone realm is the same thing I have in the PC realm. If I don't like Windows, I can checkout distrowatch and try a smorgasboard of operating systems. No reason the smartphone can't be the same way, except for greed.

Florence Ion / Florence was a former Reviews Editor at Ars, with a focus on Android, gadgets, and essential gear. She received a degree in journalism from San Francisco State University and lives in the Bay Area.